Torpedo for shcoting oil-wells



J. A. FRYER AND W. W. WALLACE.

ToRPEDo FOR SHOOTING 0|L WELLS.

l APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. |919. 1,337,063. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

JA.FP z/@rf and torpedo.

of Fig. 1; and

UNTTED STATES PATENT onere.

JOHN A. FRYER AND WILLIAM W. WALLACE, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA,

TORPEDO FOR SHOOTING OIL-WELLS.

Application led March 5, 1919.

17 '0 all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that We, JOHN A. FRYER and lVILLiAM W. VALLAGE, citizens of the United States, residing at Tulsa, id the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Torpedo for Shooting Oil-lllells, of Which the following is a specification.

The obj ect of our invention is to provide a torpedo of novel construction for shooting oil and gas Wells which can be manufactured at a relatively small cost, varying in size to accommodate Whatever charge is desired for the particular Well; to provide novel means 'for concentrating the force of the explosion at a particular portion of the container; to provide novel means for guiding and supporting the container in the Well; to provide a novel cap for the container adapted to prevent accidental iiring ofthe charge While adjusting the cap, and to provide improved means for firing the Vith these and other objects in view, as more fully hereinafter set forth, We provide the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a modified form of safety head.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, We provide one or more seamless metal tube containers 1 of suitable length, the diameter being varied to permit any speciied amount of high explosive to be distributed throughout a required depth; the thickness of Wall of the container varying with the diameter; and the length of the containers varying with the distance over which it is desired to distribute the explosion. Containers 1 are joined at the ends by threaded couplings 2 or other suitable means. We provide a threaded bottom cap 3, as shown in Fig. 1, or other suitable means Vfor sealing the bottom of the container, and a suitable anchor member 4, suitably secured to cap 3, and it is Within the contemplation of our invention to make members 3 and 4 integral. We provide a suitable top cap 5 preferably of brass or a similar metal and diering from the metal of which container 1 is construct-4 Speciication of Letters Patent. A Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Serial No. 280,730.

ed, to prevent the producing of a spark accidentally While the cap is being adjusted. Mounted in cap 5 We provide a suitable sparking device such as spark plug and suitable electric connections 7 and 8 for the sparking mechanism, arranged as illustrated or in any suitable manner for prodlcing an electric spark to ignite the charge.n

Spark plug 6 is protected by suitable insulation such as pitch 10 contained Within the cover 9 which is threaded to cap 5 as shown in Fig. 1 or to plug 16 as shown in Fig. 3, or otherwise suitably secured thereto.

To hold the torpedo'in a vertical position in the Well and to provide meansfor readily removing it from the Well in case of necessity we provide suitable projecting bails 12 and 13, arranged preferably at right angles to each other and projecting beyond the sides of containers 1. Bails 12 and 13 are secured in .any suitable manner to container 1, as by the Wire 11.

For the purpose of concentrating the eX- plosion at any desired portion of the containers 1, We may mount thereon one or more metal bands 14, to provide increased resistance Aand thus serve as a means for concentrating the 'force of the explosion at the portion of the container desired, which we have discovered results from the provision of such members. These members may however be omitted When so desired.

Referring to Fig. `3, a modified form of top cap is shown, comprising an outer cap 15 of the same metal as the body of container 1, and an inner plug or cap 16 of a different metal, such as brass, Which is adapted to prevent the producing of a spark accidentally in adjusting the member after the charge is placed in the container.

It is Within the contemplation of our ini vention to insert the charge through either end of the container as desired, but the cap or plug at such end of the container must be of different metal than container l to prevent the accidental production of a spark in adjusting the cap or plug after the charge is placed in the container.

It is an especial object of our invention to provide a torpedo adapted for the safe handling and firing of high explosives, particularly nitrates of toluol or toluene, which we believe have not heretofore been employed in torpedoes for shooting'oil and gas wells; nor do We believe that there is at the present time any other torpedo' suitable for this particular purpose.

It is also our especial object to provide a torpedo of such construction, as to be Waterproof, and in which the sparking apparatus is properly insulated, as illustrated, and which is especiall adapted for the safe firing of a high exp osive, in the manner hereinbefore described.

` We are aware that previous to our invention torpedoes `for shooting oil and gas Wells have been made. We therefore do not claim such a torpedo broadly.

We claim:

1. In aI torpedo for'oil and gas Wells, a Waterproof` metal container adapted for use with a high explosive such as nitrates of toluene, a closure cap of different metal mounted on the upper end of the container,

and an electrically operated firing device positioned at the end of the container for discharging the explosive by means of an electric spark, substantially as set forth.

2. 1n a torpedo for oil and gas Wells, the combination of one or more tubular containers, cap members closing the ends of the said containers, one of sa1d cap members directly engaging the metal container and forming the closure member When the torpedo is lilled being of different metal from the body of the container to which it is attached to prevent accidental production of a spark prematurely, means for electricallyv firing the torpedo, and one or more projecting bails attached to .the container and adapted to hold the torpedo vertically in the Well and providing means for readily removing the torpedol from the well for inspection in the event of its failing to explode properly.

3. In a torpedo for oil and gas Wells, the combination of a plurality of metal tubular containers, threaded couplings having threaded connection With 4the ends of the containers to hold same in alinement, caps for the ends of the containers, one of said caps operating as the closure element when the torpedo is filled and being of dierent metal to provide a non-sparking element directly engaging the body of the container to prevent accidental firing, means for raising and lowering the torpedo, means for electrically firing same, and means for preventing water from reaching said electrical firing means.

4. In a torpedo for oil and gas Wells, the combination of one or more metal tubular containers, couplings threaded to and connecting said containers, a bottom cap having an anchor member removably secured to the lower end of the series of containers, a top plug carrying an insulation cover suitably secured thereto, a jump spark device mounted in said plug and protected by insulating material, and electric Wiring operatively connected to the sparking device, the aforesaid plug being of different metal from the container which it directly engages, whereby to prevent premature production of a spark in adjusting the plug When the torpedo is filled.

JOHN A. FRYER. WILLIAM W. WALLACE. 

